Getting Help

Alcoholics Anonymous is a group formed by people who have or had a problem with drinking.

health
and
fitnessUpdated: Jun 27, 2003 18:04 IST

PTI

Treatment for substance abuse is available. The TT Ranganathan Clinic is one of the premier treatment centres in India. Another source of help that is available in all cities and big towns is Alcoholics Anonymous. This is a group formed by people who have or had a problem with drinking.

What the AA does:

The group meets regularly. Members sit in a circle.

Meetings begin with the serenity prayer:

God grant us the serenityTo accept things we cannot changeCourage to change the things we canAnd wisdom to know the difference

The twelve steps and twelve traditions of AA are read out.

One member, who is conducting the meeting, requests a couple of members to speak.

The members introduce themselves by first name only. They talk about their experience with alcohol. Or they may talk about some other problem that is worrying them.

While someone is speaking no one interrupts. Whatever is said is absolutely confidential.

No one gives advice. But if a fellow member has had a similar problem, he speaks of his experience and how he coped with it. This automatically serves as a guideline.

At the end of the meeting a bag is passed around and everyone puts in a few rupees that goes towards refreshments and the rent of the space. Contributions are voluntary.